Old Covenant Ministry

1Now the first covenant also had regulations for ministry and an earthly sanctuary. 2For a tabernacle was set up, and in the first room, which is called the holy place, were the lampstand, the table, and the presentation loaves.a 3Behind the second curtain was a tent called the most holy place.a 4It had the gold altar of incense and the ark of the covenant, covered with gold on all sides, in which was a gold jar containing the manna, Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.a 5The cherubim of glory were above the ark overshadowing the mercy seat. It is not possible to speak about these things in detail right now.a

6With these things prepared like this, the priests enter the first room repeatedly, performing their ministry.a 7But the high priest alone enters the second room, and he does that only once a year, and never without blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.a 8The Holy Spirit was making it clear that the way into the most holy place had not yet been disclosed while the first tabernacle was still standing.a 9This is a symbol for the present time, during which gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the worshiper’s conscience.a 10They are physical regulations and only deal with food, drink, and various washings imposed until the time of the new order.a

New Covenant Ministry

11But Christ has appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come.A In the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands (that is, not of this creationa), 12he entered the most holy place once for all time, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.a 13For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow, sprinkling those who are defiled, sanctify for the purification of the flesh,a 14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirita offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse ourA consciences from dead works so that we can serve the living God?b

15Therefore, he is the mediatora of a new covenant,a b so that those who are called might receive the promisec of the eternal inheritance, because a death has taken place for redemption from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.d 16Where a will exists, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17For a will is valid only when people die, since it is never in effect while the one who made it is living. 18That is why even the first covenant was inaugurated with blood. 19For when every command had been proclaimed by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats,A along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll itself and all the people,a 20saying, This is the blood of the covenant that God has ordained for you.a b 21In the same way, he sprinkled the tabernacle and all the articles of worship with blood.a 22According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.a

23Therefore, it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves to be purified with better sacrifices than these.a 24For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a modelA of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that he might now appear in the presence of God for us.a 25He did not do this to offer himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another.a 26Otherwise, he would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared one time, at the end of the ages,a for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself.b 27And just as it is appointed for people to die once — and after this, judgmenta —  28so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many,a will appear a second time,b not to bear sin, butA to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.c